The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(04-25-2017 09:36 AM)KentFlasher Wrote:  Just saw on twitter that 6-8 forward Akiean Frederick has signed with Kent. He was second team Juco All-American and average 22.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game at Sinclair CC. Maybe he's the guy to step in a fill Jimmy Hall's big shoes.

This just made my day. Seemed like the crop of what was left was pretty thin, but I really like him.

I didn't know NJCAA had a Division II. I'm not sure about the competition level. It looks like we can get 2 seasons out of Akiean?

Any likelihood of Devon Andrews returning to Kent for 2018-2019?

(04-25-2017 02:41 PM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  I didn't know NJCAA had a Division II. I'm not sure about the competition level. It looks like we can get 2 seasons out of Akiean?

Any likelihood of Devon Andrews returning to Kent for 2018-2019?

FWIW ... Richaun Holmes (BG/NBA 76ers) played D II at the juco level as well.

watching his highlight videos here.. WOW, he is like a jimmy hall clone (if that's possible.) he totally has jimmy's game.

https://www.hudl.com/profile/5277494/akiean-frederick

with duling & now Frederick.. we are looking GOOD for next year :)

still 2 more scholarships available? if yes, wow.. we're sitting pretty :)

great job KSU coaches!!

I also agree the KSU program may have gotten a promising PF. And Akiean looks like a legitimate 6' 9" who has ball handling skills, good footwork, a three-point shooting touch, and is not afraid to run.

I guess the big question now is who will wear #23 next year?

(04-25-2017 03:38 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(04-25-2017 02:41 PM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  I didn't know NJCAA had a Division II. I'm not sure about the competition level. It looks like we can get 2 seasons out of Akiean?

Any likelihood of Devon Andrews returning to Kent for 2018-2019?

FWIW ... Richaun Holmes (BG/NBA 76ers) played D II at the juco level as well.

So did Youngblood.

Here's an article I saw a few months back on him. Seems like a real late bloomer. It'll be interesting to see where we go with the other two scholarships. On paper there's no glaring holes.

http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/sports/...PN1RLeTVO/

We will get a chance to see Akiean and BJ in August as the team heads to Costa Rica to play a few games. Also, unlikely Devon returns to KSU. We will re-recruit him (which is to say we will probably go watch him play a few times) but that ship has likely sailed.

(04-26-2017 07:40 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  We will get a chance to see Akiean and BJ in August as the team heads to Costa Rica to play a few games. Also, unlikely Devon returns to KSU. We will re-recruit him (which is to say we will probably go watch him play a few times) but that ship has likely sailed.

I'm guessing that means either he's getting attention from bigger schools or that relationship is strained? Too bad, he could've been exciting here. Love what we have coming in the next two years though.

(04-27-2017 05:58 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  

(04-26-2017 07:40 PM)dannyb73 Wrote:  We will get a chance to see Akiean and BJ in August as the team heads to Costa Rica to play a few games. Also, unlikely Devon returns to KSU. We will re-recruit him (which is to say we will probably go watch him play a few times) but that ship has likely sailed.

I'm guessing that means either he's getting attention from bigger schools or that relationship is strained? Too bad, he could've been exciting here. Love what we have coming in the next two years though.

I have never gotten the impression the relationship is strained.

Looks like Groce had a busy week at Akron. If verbal commits count is right he's got all his scholarships filled which is pretty impressive considering he stepped into a team that was losing it's top two players and lost something like 5 transfers. They landed a 6'3" freshman guard transfer from Florida, a 5'8" freshman guard transfer from Long Beach St, and a 6'10" transfer from ECU (not sure if he'll has 2 or 3 years left) as well as a 6'11" prep school recruit and a 6'4" HS guard who put up some impressive HS numbers but was under-recruited. All of this in the span of about a week. They're probably going to be super young and shorthanded next year but they've got a lot to look forward to.

Anyone hearing anything on our last two scholarships? I imagine it's not an easy sell at this point because it doesn't look like we have a lot of playing time to offer next year. The fact that the coaching staff is short staffed right now isn't helping I'm sure. Looks like we've made some recent offers to 2018 recruits. Seems like Sendy likes to keep one scholarship open for the spring to fill immediate needs and since we only have one 2018 scholarship open right now I'm guessing he's looking at possible grad transfers with at least one of the remaining scholarships.

The flashes have filled another scholarship. It appears that Phillip Whittington from USC Upstate is transferring to Kent and will sit out the upcoming year with 2 years of eligibility to follow. He is 6-9 215 and averaged 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks this season as a sophomore for the Spartans.

I like 6'-8 to 6'-9" players. Who doesn't?

Here is a link to Phillip Whittington's player bio page from USC Upstates website = http://www.upstatespartans.com/sports/m-...hilip_ashc

It will be good for him to sit out a year, work on his game as well as strength/conditioning and then hopefully have 2 successful years @ KSU.

Tanner Castora transferred to KSU from USC Upstate....

Any word on possible replacements for McKee & Steinburg?

Seems like a nice addition. Pretty solid numbers for a Sophomore. Looks to be very long. The only video I could find of him was from when he was in HS and included a picture of him in front of a "what's your wingspan" silhouette of Al Horford presumably at a Hawks' game. Looked like his wingspan was pretty close to Horford's who has a wingspan slightly over 7 foot. So it's safe to say he's got some length.

Seems like we have a solid group of post players for the foreseeable future. De La Rosa (Jr), Frederick (Jr), Pippen (So), A Walker (So), Duling (Fr) then the year after inject Whittington into Pippen and Walker's class. We're going to need some guys to step up but I like the pieces we have in place. I'm hoping to see big strides from De La Rosa, Pippen, and Walker this summer.

(05-01-2017 06:16 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Seems like a nice addition. Pretty solid numbers for a Sophomore. Looks to be very long. The only video I could find of him was from when he was in HS and included a picture of him in front of a "what's your wingspan" silhouette of Al Horford presumably at a Hawks' game. Looked like his wingspan was pretty close to Horford's who has a wingspan slightly over 7 foot. So it's safe to say he's got some length.

Seems like we have a solid group of post players for the foreseeable future. De La Rosa (Jr), Frederick (Jr), Pippen (So), A Walker (So), Duling (Fr) then the year after inject Whittington into Pippen and Walker's class. We're going to need some guys to step up but I like the pieces we have in place. I'm hoping to see big strides from De La Rosa, Pippen, and Walker this summer.

Just to be contrary ... would love to see Duling, AWalker and maybe even Pippen drop down a three ... and see a legit big 240-250 pounder to play in front of or behind DLR ...

JHALL ...JGreen and the like can spoil you. ...

(05-01-2017 06:58 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(05-01-2017 06:16 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Seems like a nice addition. Pretty solid numbers for a Sophomore. Looks to be very long. The only video I could find of him was from when he was in HS and included a picture of him in front of a "what's your wingspan" silhouette of Al Horford presumably at a Hawks' game. Looked like his wingspan was pretty close to Horford's who has a wingspan slightly over 7 foot. So it's safe to say he's got some length.

Seems like we have a solid group of post players for the foreseeable future. De La Rosa (Jr), Frederick (Jr), Pippen (So), A Walker (So), Duling (Fr) then the year after inject Whittington into Pippen and Walker's class. We're going to need some guys to step up but I like the pieces we have in place. I'm hoping to see big strides from De La Rosa, Pippen, and Walker this summer.

Just to be contrary ... would love to see Duling, AWalker and maybe even Pippen drop down a three ... and see a legit big 240-250 pounder to play in front of or behind DLR ...

JHALL ...JGreen and the like can spoil you. ...

I don't think De La Rosa has enough foot speed to play along side of another 240-250 pounder unless that guy can move and stretch the floors. Guys like that don't end up in the MAC. Heck, we struggled when DLR and Hall played together.

I would however, love to see Pippen at the 4 and Duling/Walker at the three next to DLR. I wasn't implying that Duling or Walker will be primarily post players, just commenting that we've got a lot of solid looking post options the next two years.

(05-01-2017 07:21 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  

(05-01-2017 06:58 PM)cleveland Wrote:  

(05-01-2017 06:16 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Seems like a nice addition. Pretty solid numbers for a Sophomore. Looks to be very long. The only video I could find of him was from when he was in HS and included a picture of him in front of a "what's your wingspan" silhouette of Al Horford presumably at a Hawks' game. Looked like his wingspan was pretty close to Horford's who has a wingspan slightly over 7 foot. So it's safe to say he's got some length.

Seems like we have a solid group of post players for the foreseeable future. De La Rosa (Jr), Frederick (Jr), Pippen (So), A Walker (So), Duling (Fr) then the year after inject Whittington into Pippen and Walker's class. We're going to need some guys to step up but I like the pieces we have in place. I'm hoping to see big strides from De La Rosa, Pippen, and Walker this summer.

Just to be contrary ... would love to see Duling, AWalker and maybe even Pippen drop down a three ... and see a legit big 240-250 pounder to play in front of or behind DLR ...

JHALL ...JGreen and the like can spoil you. ...

I don't think De La Rosa has enough foot speed to play along side of another 240-250 pounder unless that guy can move and stretch the floors. Guys like that don't end up in the MAC. Heck, we struggled when DLR and Hall played together.

I would however, love to see Pippen at the 4 and Duling/Walker at the three next to DLR. I wasn't implying that Duling or Walker will be primarily post players, just commenting that we've got a lot of solid looking post options the next two years.

AGREE... a lot of post options. Just don't see ADR as more than a 15-18 minute player. Need another true big to pair with him, behind or in front of him .. not on the floor at the same time ... Every other position on the team looks to be at least a true two-deep, except the 5.

Not saying others can't -- and probably will -- play there. But If DLR goes down, Kent suddenly doesn't look as imposing.

Looking imposing and being imposing are two different things. So far the St. John's transfer has been far from imposing regardless of his physical stature.